Thinking about an EcoSphere.

This is a discussion on Thinking about an EcoSphere. within the Beginner Freshwater Aquarium forums, part of the Freshwater Fish and Aquariums category; -->
So I saw something called an EcoSphere and I was very interested! I have a large aquarium and I love it, and I also ...

this might work if you have a hole in the top and bottom for irrigation.

I just use a normal aquarium first started with lotsa plants and with the fish added slowly.

The tanks have ran for up to 9 years with no water changes, no mechanical filtration, no air stone, literally the tank, light, water, plants and fish. Just replacing the evaporative water with straight untreated tap. When using live bearers like platies the tank builds up a more or less stable population of 20-30 fish in a 10g tank that lasts for years.

So it's not a complete closed eco jar but rather a low maintenance aquarium setup that is basically balanced out and stabilized by the plants.

I just use a normal aquarium first started with lotsa plants and with the fish added slowly.

The tanks have ran for up to 9 years with no water changes, no mechanical filtration, no air stone, literally the tank, light, water, plants and fish. Just replacing the evaporative water with straight untreated tap. When using live bearers like platies the tank builds up a more or less stable population of 20-30 fish in a 10g tank that lasts for years.

So it's not a complete closed eco jar but rather a low maintenance aquarium setup that is basically balanced out and stabilized by the plants.

still just my .02

replacing evaporated water is more or less a water change. did you feed any fish or are they herbivores ?

replacing evaporated water is more or less a water change. did you feed any fish or are they herbivores ?

do you use a filter?

top off is not like changing 10% of the water each week ot whatever.

I do feed the fish but very lightly. In fact if the tank clouds up I kill the lights and stop adding food until it clears. Then resume with less lighting and feeding. Like very light feeding once per day. On vacations I just leave the tank for up to two (and sometimes three) weeks and have no losses.

In my marine tanks I would protect the macro algaes from the fish because the fish would eat the macros. Just a partition so the macros are on one side with the fish on the other. So I have a display fish area in front and a macro algae in the back 3" or so. The fish would eat the macros that poked through the partition.

On the fw I have found that adding peat moss does prevent kh and gh build ups over years and fish like neon tetras do much better.

One thing that is interesting is the pH rises to very high values like 8.4-8.8 with the api high range test kit. Yet fish that supposedly "need" low pH values like 7 or lower live for years and years. I suspect that carbon dioxide is extremely low because the plants have made the tank a net consumer of carbon dioxide and producer of oxygen each 24 hour period.

Just what works for me. I have heard it called the natrual or balanced or leiden system.

replacing evaporated water is more or less a water change. did you feed any fish or are they herbivores ?

do you use a filter?

Your statement couldn't be more incorrect. Replacing evaporated water is nothing like a partial water change...even if the water you add was distilled.
Water that evaporates leaves minerals and 'crud' behind so when you top off, your adding water with more minerals which eventually results in a very, unnaturally high mineral content.

A partial water change replaces and dilutes polluted tank water with fresh water, making the water in the tank fresher.

Your statement couldn't be more incorrect. Replacing evaporated water is nothing like a partial water change...even if the water you add was distilled.
Water that evaporates leaves minerals and 'crud' behind so when you top off, your adding water with more minerals which eventually results in a very, unnaturally high mineral content.

A partial water change replaces and dilutes polluted tank water with fresh water, making the water in the tank fresher.

so it is a water change? just with more minerals? what do they do to fish? how do you measure mineral content? how many minerals are too many? and most importantly, what minerals? sulfur salt?

does this guy have super fish? 9 years of unnaturally high mineral content really did a lot

shouldn't this guys water be a solid by now?

so many questions for your vague contemptible reply

And that wasnt even the main point in my reply. i was just saying how it wasn't like a eco jar